Disease-Causing Agent Behind Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease currently affects more than 1.5 million Americans. It’s common cause is thought to be due to the death/impairment of nerve cells in a part of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells normally produce dopamine which allows for greater control of the body’s muscles, resulting in smoother movement all around. Now, some researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine think they have found the reason for the death of the nerve cells that cause this disease.

The protein alpha-synuclein plays a crucial role in the development of the disease, though for a long time the cause was unknown. Alpha-synuclein is found throughout the brain. In people with Parkinson’s this protein starts to clump up, which in turn causes the death of dopamine-producing cells. The new research done by the Saint Louis team shows that it is a form of dopamine itself that causes this clumping to occur. The team found that dopamine is converted to a highly toxic chemical called DOPAL. DOPAL directly causes the alpha-synuclein protein to bundle up and leads to cell death.

While current treatments to the disease are based on replenishing dopamine, researchers are now wanting to create “neuroprotective” therapies, or therapies that stop the dopamine cells from dying in the first place. With the direct cause now found, the development for a cure to Parkinson’s has taken another great leap forward. It will take many more, no doubt, but researchers are hopeful that their work will lead to greater breakthroughs for Parkinson’s patients.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030153020.htm